Man charged in fatal drug set-up heading to grand jury

Terrence Lewis Photo by Contributed Photo /Times Free Press. A 22-year-old’s charges that he robbed and killed a college student during a 2017 drug deal are moving onto the next phase of the criminal justice system. Hamilton County General Sessions Court Judge Alex McVeagh on Wednesday said enough probable cause exists to send Terrence Lewis’ criminal homicide and especially aggravated robbery charges to a grand jury. If the grand jury indicts Lewis, his case will go to Criminal Court. Though Lewis’ defense argued Wednesday the proof against him was “entirely circumstantial,” prosecutors called three witnesses to describe the state’s investigation into a Dec. 28, 2017, drug-deal-turned-shooting that killed 20-year-old Evan Derry. The first, Baxter McCurry, said he and Derry sold marijuana in the area and planned to meet up with Lewis, an acquaintance who wanted to pay off a debt to McCurry by moving about 16 pounds of marijuana for him. McCurry, 22, said he rode in the front passenger seat of Derry’s car as Derry drove to an apartment complex parking lot on Bishop Drive. They had planned to meet Lewis earlier around 5 p.m., McCurry said, but Lewis cancelled, saying they needed to reschedule to around 8 p.m. McCurry said Lewis got in the back passenger seat, but then said he forgot something in his vehicle. McCurry said he asked Derry to back next to his car so he could get what he needed. But after that, McCurry never saw Derry alive again. “[Lewis] turned like he was… [Read full story]